Molding apparatus



y 1943- c. w. GRONCY 2 ,324,991

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RD HECK AND ARL W-GRONOY E D WA (gr;

U m 4 m w/ L m h uhnmu uuunnh H u u nun u unn lun l uunn nuuulfl l Hun huuuunw W H I July 20, 1943. c. w. GRONCY MOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1941 HRH .RY 0c TN mm V w L R A c AND EDWARD HECK w 3 BY 8 ATTO R N EYS July 20, 1943. c w GRONCY 2,324,991

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CARLW CRONCY AND EDWARD HECK ATTOR N EYS July 20, 1943. c. w. GRONCY 2,324,991

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CARL W. GRONCY AND EDWARD HECK ATTQRNEYS Patented July 20, 1943 MOLDING APPARATUS Carl W. Gronc'y and Edward Heck, Akron, Ohio,

assignors to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March I, 1941, Serial No. 382,198

11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to molding apparatus for thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, more especially to apparatus for vulcanizing a plurality of annular rubber articles held in molds wherein portions of the outer surfaces of the articles are exposed.

The present invention will be described particularly with reference to fan belts, although other rubber articles which are vulcanized in molds that expose a portion of the outer surface of the article may be vulcanized by the apparatus of the invention.

Heretoi'ore fan belts have usually been vulcanized by placing them in a segmented cylindrical mold that confines the base and side portions of the fan belts, whereas the outer portions of the belts are exposed. These outer surfaces of the fan belts then are confined, and the fan belts forced into the mold, by a spiraled wrapping tape'placed around the outer surface of the cylindrical mold. The above operation is both tedious and expensive, as well as not being entirely satisfactory in that the tapes loosen as the rubber flows into the mold whereby the rub her is not continuously forced into the mold and does not flll same completely.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for vulcanizing fan belts and to provide apparatus of the character mentioned which insures the production of perfectly shaped articles.

A further object of theinvention is to provide sturdy, inexpensive apparatus which is adapted to vulcanize a plurality of fan belts rapidly and inexpensively; to center the articles in the vulcanizer; and to handle a variety of sizes of articles.

A further object is to provide vulcanization apparatus which can be positively positioned in a safe inoperative position.

The above and further objects will be manifest as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure I is an elevation of the apparatus embodying the invention;

Figur II is a vertical section on line 11-11 of Figure V;

Figure III is an enlarged detail section on line III-III of Figure I with a modified adapter ring substituted for that shown in Figure II;

Figure IV is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the apparatus of Figure I with the handle I2 pulled down;

Figure V is a plan of the apparatus shown in Figure I; and

Figure VI is a section on a larger scale ofa portion of the segmented fan belt mold.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a fan belt vulcanizing apparatus generally indicated by the numeral I0 is shown, which apparatus broadly comprises a frame If upon which a vulcanizer head I2 is slidably carried. The frame II includes two spaced, vertically positioned cylindrical supports I3, on which upper and lower supporting arms or yokes I4 and I5, respectively, are slidably carried, which arms engage with and support the vulcanizer head I2. The supporting arm I4 includes laterally outwardly extending flanges I6 at the ends thereof, which flanges engage with piston rods II that extend downwardly therefrom. The piston rods II have heads I8 thereon which are received in cylinders I9, positionedadjacent and extending vertically with relation. to the vulcanizer head I2. Suitable pipes H and 22 connect to the extremities of the cylinders I9 for'introducing fluid into or exhausting it from the cylinders I9 so that the vertical positions of the piston heads in the chamber can readily be controlled. The pipes 2I and 22 connect to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid (not shown) whereby suflicient pressure can be exerted upon the piston heads I8 to raise or lower the piston rods I1 and their associated mechanism relatively of the remainder of the cylinders I9. As the supporting arm I4, which is associated with the vulcanizer head I2, engages with the piston rods II, it is seen that the vertical position of the vulcanizer head with relation to the supports I3 can readily be controlled by operation of the cylinders I9.

Figure II shows that the vulcanizer head I2 mainly comprises a cylindrical sleeve 3| which has outwardly extending flanges 32 and 33 integrally formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively. The arm I4 has a disc shaped head portion 34 formed integrally therewith and studs 35 secure the upper flange 32 of the sleeve 3| thereto whereby the upper end of tioned lugs 4| formed on the ring 38 to secure, removably. the rings together. A suitable gasket 42 is provided between the rings 35 and 38 to seal the joint therebetween. A piston 43 is connected between the frame H and the locking ring 38, which piston, when motivated by suitable control and operation means (not shown), moves the locking ring through a small arc to lock or unlock the lugs 38 and 4|. When the locking ring is disengaged, the unit formed by the head 34, sleeve 3|. and ring 35 can be moved upwardly on the supports I3 by the cylinders l8.

To provide a flexible member for forcing the articles into the molds with which they are associated, a rubber sleeve 44 is mounted in the bore of the sleeve 3| by segmented rings 45 and 45 which .compress the end portions of the rubber sleeve against the sleeve 3|. Stud bolts 41 secure the rings 45 and 45 in place. It will be seen that the rubber sleeve 44 is appreciably longer than a segmented fan belt mold 48 which is shown in Figure II of the drawings and, usually, the normal diameter of the rubber sleeve should about equal the mold diameter. The fan belt mold 48 has a bottom spacer 49 and an upper spacer 5| provided therefor, the latter eing fixedly mounted between the head 34 and the sleeve flange 32, and extending into said sleeve interiorly of the rubber sleeve 44. The metal sleeve 3| is enabled to receive several different diameter articles therein by adapter rings 52 and 53 which engage with, respectively, the bottom spacer and upper spacer 49 and 5|. The adapter ring 52 has annular recesses in' its top and bottom surfaces for engaging with lugs 54 and 55 formed on the lower mold section and the bottom spacer 49, respectively to center the mold on the latter. Adaptor ring 53 is secured to the upper spacer 5| and engages with a guide ring 55 which has an annular recess 51 therein in which a lug 58 of the upper mold segment is received. Note that the diameter of the adapter rings adjacent the mold 48 may vary from its diameter adjacent the mold head, as shown by the modified adapter ring 52b shown in Figure III, but that the periphery of the adapter rings smoothly combines with that of the mold. Therefore, by changing the adapter and guide rnigs any articles having diameters equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the spacers 49 and 5| can be received in the apparatus. If the article to be processed is much smaller than the shell 3| (and spacers 48 and 5|) then a smaller shell and smaller spacers should be substituted for those shown herein. Figure VI shows that fan belts 5211 are received in the mold 48 and that the outer surfaces of the.fan belts are exposed, Whereas the remaining surfaces thereof are confined in the cavities of the mold formed between the individual segments 48aof the mold.

During vulcan zation of fan belts 52a, the rubber sleeve 44 must be forced radially inwardly so that it forces the fan belts into their mold cavities. To this end a jointed pipe 59 connects to the space between the sleeves 3| and 44. A

suitable source of fluid pressure, such as glycerin,

is connected to the free end of the pipe 55 whereby the rubber sleeve can be pressed tightly against the fan belts.

The assembled fan belt molds are carried on, and centered by, a ram head 5| which has a plurality of parallel recesses 52 formed therein (Figure III). .These recesses are designed to receive rollers 53 of a conveyor 54 that is positioned in the lower part of the vulcanizer III by means of brackets and on which the [an belt mold 48 normally is positioned. Lugs 5|a are formed on the ram head 5| to engage with corresponding holes formed in the base head 49 and center the mold 48 in the apparatus. The ram head 6| is mounted for limited vertical movement by means of a cylinder 55 formed in the base 31 into which a ram 51 supporting the ram head 5| extends. The ram 51 is sealed in the cylinder 55 by a sealing collar 58. By raising or lowering the ram head 5|, the mold 48 is lifted from or de posited upon the conveyor 54. The ram also is utilized to elevate the mold, after the vulcanizer head I2 is locked in its lower or operating position, whereby the mold is forced against the upper spacer 5| to compact the mold segments and hold them so during the vulcanizing operation. A pipe 59 connects to the cylinder 55 and to a source of hydraulic pressure so that a fluid can be forced into or out of the cylinder to raise or lower the ram 51.

The fan belt mold 48 can be placed on the conveyor 54 in any desired manner when the vulcanizer head is in its uppermost position. A suitable conveyor (not shown) may be placed adjacent the apparatus l0 and be provided with a removable or hinged section to bridge the space between the conveyors and enable the mold 48 to be placed in or taken from the apparatus.

Steam for vulcanizing the fan belts may be introduced into the base of the vulcanization head through suitable means connected to the base head 31 thereof. This steam flows upward- 1y of the vulcanization apparatus around the conveyor 54, mold spacer 49, and into the interior of the mold 48; The steam may exhaust through the upper head of the vulcanizer, or it may merely be confined in the vulcanizer. Steam supplied solely to the inner surface of the fan belt mold will readily vulcanize fan belts. held therein. Of course, steam is not introduced into the apparatus l0 until the vulcanizer head I2 is locked to the base 31 and the rubber sleeve 44 is forced against the mold 48.

. After the vulcanization of the fan belts has been completed, the rubber sleeve 44 is freed from the fan belt mold 48. Usually this is done by applying a vacuum to the outer surface of the rubber sleeve, which action is effected by withdrawing (positively, if necessary) the fluid forced thereagainst and which draws the rubber sleeve tightly against the inner surface of the sleeve 3| I to facilitate movement of the vulcanizer head I2 with relation to the fan belt mold. To remove the fan belts from the apparatus, the ram head 5| is lowered, the vulcanizer head is raised, and the fan belt molds are slid from the apparatus by rolling them over the conveyor 54, after which the individual fan belts may be freed from the mold by knocking the segments thereof apart. A control valve II is provided for the cylinders l9 and a handle 12 is provided to operate the valve 1| whereby the operation of the cylinders I8 and the position of the vulcanizer head I2 are readily controlled. The handle 12 is shown in its raised position in Figure I before the vulcanizer unit is moved to its upper position on the supports 3 while it is shown in its lower position in Figure IV.

A feature of the apparatus is that a pipe 13 carrying a spray head 14 is fixedly mounted on an upper cross arm 10 of the frame and extends downwardly therefrom. This pipe 13 and spray head 14 extend through the upper head 34 of the vulcanizer. Upon upward or downward movement of the vulcanizer head, the spray head 14 may be used to spray protective fluids, such as glycerin, upon the inner surface of the rubber sleeve 44 which obviously is subjected to severe temperatures and pressures during vulcanization of the fan belts. To this end feed pipes 15 and 16 connect to the spray head to supply air and fluid thereto. The spray head also functions as a knockout element to prevent fan belts, or molds, from moving upwardly with the vulcanizer head. The pipe 13 is fixedly positioned, and bears upon the guide plate 56 immediatley upon upward movement thereof to knock out or hold back any articles or mold segments stuck to the rubber sleeve 44.

A safety feature of the apparatus is that means, such as arcuate metal plates 8|, for extending between the lower end of the member 36 and the frame H when the vulcanizer head 12 is raised, are provided to prevent untimely downward movement of the vulcanization head. The plates 8| are secured to vertically extending rods 82 which are pivotally mounted on the frame ll adjacent to, but on opposite sides of the posts l3. The rods extend the height of the apparatus l and protrude through brackets 83 extending from opposite sides of the upper support arm 10. Levers 84 are secured to theupper ends of the rods 82 and extend in the same direction therefrom. A tie bar 85 connects the rods 82 together, whereby they can only be rotated as a unit. The positioning of the safety plates 8| is controlled by the handle 12 which engages with a link 86 that connects to a lever 81 through a lost motion connection 88 whereby lost motion between the link 86 and lever 81 may occur. A shaft 89 is journaled on the'cylinder l9 adjacent the valve 12 and it has a bevelled gear 80 on an ned thereof adjacent one of the rods. A second bevelled gear 9! is carried on the adjacent rod 82 and meshes with the gear 98 while the lever 81 is secured to the shaft 89 so that a connection is formed between the handle 12 and the safety plates 8i. When the vulcanizer head is to be raised, the handle i2 is lifted which causes the cylinders l9 to raise the vulcanizer head. The link 88 is moved upwardly by the handle 12 and the end of the lever 81 is moved to the lower end of the connection 88, which frees the shaft 89 for rotation. The rods 82 are rotated and the safety plates are urged into position by a Weight 82 which is secured to the shaft 89 by a rod 93 which extends substantially horizontally therefrom, when the vulcanize'r head is in its lowermost position, as shown. This action results from the continued and automatic rotational movement acting on the shaft 89 and through gears 90 and 9|, levers 84 and tie bar 85 to both rods 82. When the vulcanizer head is to be lowered, the handle 12 is moved downwardly and the connection 88 then transmits movement to the shaft 89 to rotate the rods 82 and move the safety plates to an unlocking position. The weight 92 is moved upwards by such rotaton of shaft 89. Note that the safety plates cannot move into locking position until the vulcanizer head is raised whereby a continued force must be exerted thereon, which action is provided by the 48a of the mold 48 havecorresponding recesses and lugs formed on similar sides thereof whereby the segments of the mold properly align themselves and form cavities in which the fan belts 52a are positioned. Note that the rubber sleeve 44 forces the fan belts individually into the mold and retains a compressive force thereon regardless of the change in shape of the belts.

In operation it is seen that the apparatus of the invention provides ready means by which vulcanization apparatus may be brought into and removed from, association with a stack of fan belts placed in a multiple cavity fan belt mold with their outer surfaces exposed, in accordance with usual practice. After the vulcanization head I2 is brought in proper relation to the fan belt mold, then the rubber sleeve can be compressed'against the fan belts to retain them in their mold cavities, which pressure'is constantly and uniformly exerted on the fan belts during their entire vulcanization period, regardless of changes in shape of the fan belts. Upon completion of vulcanization, the fan belts are readily removed from the vulcanizer. by merely evacuating the chamber between the rubber sleeve 44 and the sleeve 3|, after which the vulcanizationhead can be telescoped from engagement with the fan belts.

The detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto. The invention includes all features of patentable novelty residing in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. Vulcanization apparatus for annular rubber articles having a portion of their outer peripheries exposed when placed in the molds therefor, said apparatus comprising a segmental mold for annular rubber articles adapted to position same with a portion of their outer peripheries exposed, a reciprocable ram upon which said mold is positionable, a rigid casing adapted to be positioned around and radially spaced from said mold, a flexible sleeve mounted within said casing with the ends in fluid sealing engagement with the casing walls for telescoping movement to and from a mold enclosing position, and means for forcing said flexible sleeve inwardly into tight engagement with said mold when the latter is inside said casing whereby annular rubber articles in said mold can be forced tightly thereinto.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mold adapted to receive an annular article and expose a portion of the outer surface thereof, a substantially rigid sleeve positionable around and spaced from sa d mold, a flexible sleeve positioned between said mold and said cylindrical sleeve and secured to said cylindrical sleeve at axially spaced circumferential portions thereof, means for setting up pressure between said cylindrical sleeve and said flexible sleeve to force said flexible sleeve against said mold and any article placed therein, a frame, a reciprocable ram supporting said mold in axial alignment with said sleeves, means mounting said substantially rigid cylindrical sleeve upon said frame for telescoping movement from a mold enclosing to a mold exposing position, and meansfor locking said cylindricalsleeve in each'position.

3; Vulcanization apparatus for annular rubber articles comprising fixed vertically extending spaced supports, a yoke slidably associated with said supports, a sleeve-like member carried by said yoke for vertical movement on said supports, a vertically reciprocable ram adapted to raise and lower a mold positioned between said spaced supports and coaxiallyof said sleeve-like member, a piston secured to said yoke, a vertically extending cylinder positioned adjacent said supports and. receiving said piston, connector means for controlling the vertical position of said sleeve-like member in accordance with piston movement whereby said sleeve-like member can be reciprocated to and from a mold enclosing position, a flexible sleeve carried interiorly of said sleeve-like member and exteriorly of the mold therein, and means for contracting the flexible sleeve to engage articles disposed in the mold.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, including conveyor means for supporting the mold for said rubber articles positioned between said spaced supports, wherein the ram is positioned below said conveyor means and adapted to lift the mold off said conveyor means to a position thereabove within the sleeve-like member.

5. vulcanization apparatus as in claim 3 wherein a spray head is fixedly mounted on said supports and it is adapted to extend into said flexible sleeve when same is out of telescoped relation with said mold whereby protective liquids can be applied to said flexible sleeve.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a vertically positioned frame, an inverted cuplike head slidably mounted on said frame, means on said frame for supporting a mold, means associated with said frame for forming a chamber with said cup-like head, said mold supporting means being within said chamber, means for moving said cup-like head into and out of encompassing relation with said mold supporting means, safety plates for locking said cup-like head out of encompassing relation with said mold positioning means, and means for urging said safety plates into locking relation with said cuplike head continually as said cup-like head is moved from its encompassing to its non-encompassing position.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said cuplike head comprises a removable sleeve, and a rubber sleeve secured to said removable sleeve at the ends thereof, and including adapter rings removably associated with the adjacent head surfaces of said cup-like head and said mold sup-' porting means, said adapter rings being adapted to engage with molds of varying sizes positioned in the apparatus whereby said sleeves and adapter rings can be changed to adapt the apparatus to handle molds of different diameters.

8. Vulcanization apparatus for annular rubber articles having a portion of their outer peripheries exposed when placed in the molds therefor, said apparatus comprising a mold providing a plurality of superposed annular outwardly open channels adapted to receive uncured annular rubber articles, the outer surfaces of said articles being exposed, a casing operable through a vertical path from a position wherein said mold and the articles disposed therein are exposed, to a position wherein said mold and articles are enclosed by the walls of said casing in spaced relation to the mold and articles, a flexible sleeve disposed interiorly of the casing with opposite end margins in fluid sealing engagement therewith, fluid operable means associating with said flexible sleeve to maintain the sleeve disengaged from the casing during movement thereof between said positions, and to maintain said sleeve in pressure engagement with outer portions of said articles to maintain said articles pressed against the inner walls of the annular mold grooves during vulcanization, and fluid pressure operated means for exerting axially directed pressure on said mold when the casing is locked in mold-enclosing position.

9. Vulcanization apparatus comprising an upright segmental mold for rubber articles adapted to position articles with a portion of their outer peripheries exposed, an inverted cup-like casing adapted to be moved into a position to confine the mold in radially spaced relation thereto, a flexible sleeve mounted within the casing in a position to enclose the mold, means mounting said casing for telescoping to and from a mold enclosing position, means for raising and lowering the casing, said means having associated therewith safety means for releasably locking said casing at its upper extremity of movement relative to said mold, a vertically reciprocable ram upon which the mold is positionable adapted to lift the mold relatively of the casing into engagement with the top of the latter, and fluid means for forcing said flexible sleeve inwardly into tight engagement with said mold and articles when the casing is in a mold enclosing position for the positive retention of said articles within the mold during a vulcanization operation.

10. In a device of the character described, a fixed base frame having a pair of upstanding slide bars, a mold receiving conveyor mounted on the frame intermediate the slide bars, a vertically movable ram adapted to telescope through said conveyor to lift molds from the conveyor/to a position thereabove, a downwardly open housing disposed above the conveyor and between said bars in slidable relation thereto, means for actuating said housing from a mold enclosing to a mold exposing position, said actuating means being controllable through a pivoted lever, a looking member mounted for oscillation about one of said slide bars when the housing is in a mold exposing position to prevent accidental descent of the housing, and means connecting said hand lever and said locking member whereby said member is oscillated into locking position at the end of the housing raising operation and is oscillated to a position of release at the start of a housing lowering operation, whereby an operator is protected against the accidental lowering of the housing during installation or removal of a mold therefrom. p

11. In a device of the character described, a fixed base frame having a pair of upstanding slide bars, a mold receiving conveyor mounted on the frame intermediate the slide bars, a vertically movable ram adapted to telescope through said conveyor to lift molds from the conveyor to a position thereabove, a downwardly open housing disposed above the conveyor and between said bars in slldable relation thereto, upper and lower yokes slidably associated with the bars and extending therebetween, said housing being carried by said yokes intermediate the same, means for actuating said housing from a mold enclosing to a mold exposing position, and means for locking said lower yoke to the base frame when the housing is in operative position, said locking means comprising a retention ring having portions adapted to engage the yoke and base respectively when the ring is in looking position, said portions being disengageable by rotation of the ring.

CARL W. GRONCY. EDWARD HECK.

bERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,521,,991. July 20, 915; Y 1

CARL w. GRONCY, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 146, for "Figur' read --Figure--; page 5, first column, line R0, for 'ned read --end--; and second column, line 111;, claim 1, after "walls" insert --,means mounting said casing--; page 14., first column, line 15, claim '14., before wherein insert --and and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this co rection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in t e Patent Office.

,Signed and sealed this 21st day of September, A. D. 19!;3

1 Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

